Top holding and spinning device with electric motor drive



Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,142

TOP HOLDING AND SPINNING DEVICE WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE G. J. PAWELKA ETAL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 13, 1962 INVENTORS fiuszm J34 M52 /(4 BY Fez-05mm. bf W044 law If.

ATTORNEY De 2 1965 5. J. PAWELKA ETAL 3,224,142

TOP HOLDING AND SPINNING DEVICE WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE Filed Dec. 13, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 52 5f 50 d1 3 T 2 agin- 52 g 59 1111122111111 INVENTORS Gus'rm/Jp {MFA/(4 BY FZEDEWCK K9041.

ATTORNEY Dec. 21, 1965 G. J. PAWELKA ETAL 3,224,142

TOP HOLDING AND SPINNING DEVICE WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE Filed Dec. 13, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 I TORS gusmry w 54/(4 ma ma/(hf 9041, BY

ATTORNEY 3,224,142 Patented Dec. 21, 1965 3,224,142 TOP HOLDING AND SPINNING DEVICE WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE Gustav I. Pawelka, Sunset Ave., Glenwood Landing,

N.Y., and Frederick H. Kroll, 72 Wood Hollow Lane,

New Rochelle, N.Y.

Filed Dec. 13, 1962. Ser. No. 244,502 12 Claims. (Cl. 46-243) The present invention relates generally to improvements in toys and it relates in particular to an improved top spinning device.

In the spinning of tops, many types of expedients have been employed, from a string wound about the top or a spindle associated therewith, to a spring hand-wound motor. These top spinning devices possess numerous drawbacks and disadvantage thereby limiting their use to certain age groups and their enjoyment. Thus, where a string handwound on the top is employed, the winding itself as well as the spinning of the top require a high degree of skill and dexterity not normally found in younger children. On the other hand, where a spring hand-wound motor is employed a certain minimum amount of mechanical understanding and manipulation is required which likewise limits the use and enjoyment of the device. Furthermore, the top spinning devices heretofore available are crude and awkward arrangements which leave much to be desired.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved toy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved top spinning device.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved top spinning device which obviates the need for handwinding a string or a spring motor.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electric motor-driven top spinning device.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a top spinning device of the above nature characterized by its simplicity, ruggedness, reliability and low cost.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a top spinning device constructed according to and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, the device being illustrated preparatory to spinning;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2, the device being illustrated in top-spinning condition and the top being illustrated in full line prior to ejection and in broken line in ejected position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded, fragmentary perspective view of another form of device constructed according to and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof, partially in section, illustrating the top in a chuck-engaged position;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the top in an ejected position;

FIGURE 9 is ,an exploded fragmentary perspective view of a further form of device also constructed according to and embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view thereof, partially in section, illustrating the top in a chuck-engaged position; and

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 illustrating the top in ejected position.

In a sense, the present invention contemplates the provision of a top spinning device comprising a top, a chuck releasably engaging said top, an electric drive motor connected to said chuck, an electric battery, means including a normally open switch connecting said motor to said battery, and means for selectively releasing said top from said chuck.

According to a preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a casing defining body member which includes a hollow head section and a battery housing handle. A motor is located in the head section and is vertically slidable between a raised and depressed position and normally spring urged to its raised position. The motor drive shaft depends vertically from the motor through an opening in the head section and the chuck is affixed to its bottom end. The chuck has a circular axial downwardly directed well which engages a complementing upper section of the top, the periphery of the upper section of the top having radially projecting detents which slidably engage downwardly, forwardly directed grooves formed in the peripheral face of the well. The upper face of the chuck confronts and defines a brake system with the lower confronting face of the head section, the confronting faces being in engagement when the motor is in its fully raised position. A push button surmounts the motor and projects through the top of the head section and carries a first contact element movable therewith. Located in the path of the first contact element is a second contact element which is connected to a battery terminal and is engaged by the first contact element upon depression of the motor. It is important to note that the chuck brake faces are disengaged prior to the closing of the contacts upon depression of the motor. Advantageously, in place of the detent slot coupling between the chuck and the top, the chuck may be provided with a magnet having a pair of opposite poles located in the downwardly directed face of the chuck and the top face of the top is provided with a complementary magnet.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly the modification illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 5 thereof which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, reference numeral 10 generally designates the improved top spinning device which includes a body or drive member 11 and an associated top 12. Body member 11 comprises a head section 13 and a hollow battery housing handle section 14 projecting radially from head section 13, and provided with a removable cap or cover 16 which permits the replacement of the battery cells 17 housed in the handle 14. Head section 13 includes a circular top provided with a dished crown 18 having an axial circular opening formed therein surrounded by an upwardly directed collar defining lip 19. Disposed below crown 18 is an intermediate, outwardly stepped cylindrical wall 20 and depending from stepped wall 20 is a lower hollow guide section 21. Guide section 21 includes two pairs of oppositely disposed side walls 22 which are arranged in quadrature. Each of the side walls 22 includes upwardly outwardly inclined upper and lower sections connected by substantially horizontal intermediate shoulders. The adjacent edges of adjacent side walls 22 are connected by inwardly directed walls 23 forming an angle to each other of 90 to delineate, with a pair of walls 22, a pair of confronting, oppositely disposed guide channels 24.

A low voltage, direct current electric motor M is housed in head section 13 and includes oppositely directed arms 26 which register with guide channels 24, thereby to permit the vertical sliding of the motor M but to prevent rotation of the body thereof. A push button member 27 slidably projects through collar 19 and has formed at its bottom an enlarged circular section 28 having a top face confronting the underface of the crown wall 18 and provided with a depending circular section 29 of reduced diameter. An axial well 30 is formed in the button sections 28 and 29 and engages a mating bearing projection located on motor M. Head 13 includes a bottom wall 32, and a helical compression spring 33 is entrapped between the confronting faces of the motor M and to bottom wall 32 to urge motor M resiliently and button 27 to their raised positions, as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

Motor M is provided with a drive shaft 34 depending vertically therefrom and registering with and projecting through an aligned opening formed in bottom wall 32. A cup shaped, spinning chuck 36 is affixed to the bottom of the shaft 34 and includes a top wall 37 and a dependent peripheral Wall 38 which delineate a cylindrical well 39. Formed in the peripheral face of well 39 are one or more latching grooves 40 which include an upper horizontal section connected at its leading end with a downwardly forwardly directed section extending to the well opening. It should be noted that what is meant by forward is the direction of rotation of chuck 36 by motor M. One or both of the confronting faces of the chuck 36 and the head wall 32 are roughened or provided with a friction face, so as to brake sharply and quickly the rotation of chuck 36 when these confronting faces are in engagement. Top. 12 is of any desired configuration, including a body member 41 provided with a coaxial cylindrical upper coupling member 42 of slightly less diameter than the well 39 and provided with one or more radially projecting detents or bosses 43 which slidably register with corresponding grooves 40 when the top 12 is engaged by the spinning member 11.

A metal contact ring or annulus 44 defining a switch movable. contact underlies and is affixed to button section 2.8 and surrounds the button section 29. A battery contact resilient arm 46 is suitably afiixed to and insulated from the upper inside part of head 13 and depends to a point in axial alignment with the inner end of the handle 14 and resiliently engages the positive terminal of the leading battery cell 17. A resilient arm 47 projects inwardly and downwardly from and is electrically connected to the upper end of arm 46 and terminates in a curved section 48 defining a switch stationary contact located in the vertical path of ring contact 44.

One of the terminals 0 fthe motor M is electrically connected to contact ring 44 and the other terminal thereof is grounded to the metal casing of the motor M, which in, turn is grounded to body member 11. When body member 11 is formed of metallic material, the negative terminal of trailing battery cell 17 is grounded, thereby connecting it to said other terminal of motor M. On the other hand, if body member 11 is formed of an. insulating conductor strap 49 may be provided which extends from and engages the negative terminal of the, trailing battery 4 cell 17 and is electrically connected to the casing of the motor M.

Considering now the operation of the top spinning device described above, top 12 is coupled to spindle 36 by bringing top section 42 and detents 43 thereon into registry with well 39 and the grooves 40 therein respectively, and then turning the top relative to the chuck until the detents 43 bear or rest against the closed ends of the grooves 40. Spinning member 11 is grasped by handle 14 with the top 12 in vertical depending position and push button 27 then depressed. As push button 27 is pushed downwardly motor M is depressed and with it shaft 34 and chuck 36, first to separate the confronting braking surfaces of chuck 36, and wall 32 and thereby release the chuck 36 for free rotation. Upon further depression of button 27, contacts 44 and 48 are brought into engagement to complete the battery circuit to the motor M, energizing the motor and rotating the chuck 36 and the top 12 held therewithin. When the chuck and top have accelerated to the desired speed the button 27 is sharply released, thereby permitting spring 33 to raise contact 44 and chuck 36 quickly, sequentially to open the battery circuit to the motor M and to brake the chuck 36. Top 12, however, by reason of its angular momentum, continues to rotate thereby to effect the disengagement of detents 43 from grooves 40 and the separation and downward ejection of the top 12 from the chuck 36 as effected by the engagement of the peripherally moving detents 43 with the upper inclined edges of the grooves 40.

In FIGURES 6 to 8 of the drawing there is illustrated a unique coupling arrangement which may be used to great advantage in the present top spinning device. Specifically, except for chuck 36, the spinning member 50 of this embodiment is of the same construction as spinning member 11 and includes a vertically movable rotatable drive shaft 51 corresponding to drive shaft 34. Coaxially affixed to the bottom of the shaft 51 is a chuck 52 which comprises a disc 53 having a diametric groove formed in its underface. A bar magnet 54 having opposite poles at the ends thereof is nested in the diametric groove and has an underface substantially coplanar with the underface of chuck disc 53.

Top 56 associated with spinning member 50 is of any suitable shape, and has formed in its top face an axial cylindrical well 57 including a base 58 surrounded by an upstanding peripheral wall 59. A bar magnet 60 is nested in a diametric groove in base 58 of well 57 and is coplanar with base 58 and similar to the magnet 54. Well 58 is of slightly greater diameter than and complements disc 53.

In operation, chuck 52 is nested in well 57, with the poles of the magnet 54 registering with opposite poles of the magnet 60 to couple top 56 to chuck 52. Chuck 52 and top 56 are rotated in the manner described above and upon reaching full speed the chuck 52 is sharply braked. Top 56 will continue to rotate and will drop from the chuck 52 under the urging of the magnets 54 and 56 as like poles thereof are brought into registry and repel each other, and under the influence of gravity. By reason of the relatively slow uniform acceleration of the clutch, there is substantially no slippage between the chuck and top during such acceleration, the attraction between the magnets being sufiicient to prevent such slipping.

Another form of novel coupling arrangement possessing many desirable features is illustrated in- FIGURES 9 to 11 of the drawings. Here again, except for chuck 36, the spinning member of the presently described embodiment is similar to the spinning member 11 and includes a vertically movable rotatable drive shaft 66 corresponding to and manipulated and driven in the manner of the drive shaft 34. Coaxially affixed to the bottom of the shaft 66 is a circular chuck 67 provided with an axially depending tapered spindle 68 and a depending peripheral wall 69 of lesser height than the. spindle 68 and delineating therewith socket. Affixed to the underface of the chuck 67 and nested in the socket therein is an annular shaped magnet 70 provided with a central opening through which the spindle 68 projects, the underface of the magnet 70 being at a level below the bottom edge of peripheral wall 69. A plurality of angularly spaced diametrically extending slots 71 are formed in the underface of the magnet 70 and are provided with outwardly inclined side faces 72.

The top 73 employed with the spinning member 65 is preferably a hollow shell formed of a magnetic material such as iron or steel and includes a lower inverted conical section 74 and an upper frusto-conical section 76 having a circular top wall 77 of approximately the diameter of the magnet 70. A circular opening 78 is formed in the center of the top wall 77 and is of approximately the diameter of the spindle 68. A pair of diametrically opposed detents or bosses 79 project upwardly from the top Wall 76 and are adapted to engage a groove 72, being of a height and a Width no greater than the depth and width respectively of the groove 72. It should be noted that the locations of the grooves 71 and bosses 79 may be transposed, that is the bosses may be carried by the chuck or magnet and the grooves may be formed in the top wall of the top. The magnet may be likewise transposed. Furthermore, only the top wall 77 of the top need be formed of magnetic material the remainder of the top being formed of any other suitable material.

In operation, the spindle 68 is inserted into the opening 78 and the bosses brought into engagement with a slot 71 inwhich position the top wall 77 abuts and is attracted to and held by the magnet 70. The shaft 66 and chuck 67 are depressed in the manner earlier described and the shaft is driven by the battery energized motor to rotate the chuck 67 and the top 73 therewith. When the top 73 has reached its spinning speed, the shaft 66 and chuck 67 are released to their braking position and are sharply stopped. The top 73 continues to rotate by reason of its momentum and the bosses 79 bearing against the inclined groove faces 72, project the top axially downwardly to release the top, from the magnet 70 and from the spinning device 65,

While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a rotatable top and a top spinner comprising, a chuck, an electric drive motor connected to said chuck for rotating said chuck in a predetermined forward direction, means releasably coupling said top to said chuck for rotation therewith and responsive to the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck to effect disengagement thereof, an electric battery, means including a normally open switch connecting said motor to said battery, and means for selectively braking said chuck whereby to effect the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck and the release of said top.

2. The combination of a rotatable top and a top spinner comprising, a chuck, an electric drive motor connected to said chuck for rotating said chuck in a predetermined forward direction, means releasably coupling said top to said chuck for rotation therewith and responsive to the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck to effect disengagement thereof, an electric battery, means including a normally open switch connecting said motor to said battery, a chuck brake, and means actuating and deactivating said chuck brake in response to the opening and in response to, but prior to completion of, the closing movement of said switch, respectively, the actuating of said chuck brake effecting the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck and the release of said top.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said chuck and said top include releasably interlocking slot and detent 6 means which define said coupling means and are urged toward their release position upon said top rotating in said forward direction at a greater speed than said chuck.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a first magnet means carried by said chuck and having a pair of opposite poles in the plane of rotation of said chuck and a second magnet means carried by said top and having a pair of opposite poles in confronting registry with said first magnet means.

5. The combination of a rotatable top and a top spinner comprising a body member including a head section and a handle section, a battery housed in said body member, a motor having a depending vertical shaft mounted in said head section and vertically movable therein between depressed and raised positions, spring means urging said motor to its raised poition, a chuck mounted at the bottom of said shaft and being rotatable with said shaft by said motor in a predetermined forward direction, means for releasably coupling said top to said chuck for rotation therewith and responsive to the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck to effect disengagement thereof, means including a normally open switch connecting said motor to said battery and actuatable to a closed position upon the depression of said motor, and a chuck brake in engaged and disengaged positions when said motor is in its raised and below its raised position, respectively, the actuating of said chuck brake effecting the forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck and the release of said top.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said clutch brake is defined by engaged opposing faces on said chuck and said head section when said motor is in its raised switch open position.

7. The combination of claim 5, wherein said switch includes a first stationary contact connected to a terminal of said battery and a second contact connected to and movable with said motor into and out of engagement with said first contact with the depressing and raising of said motor.

8. The combination of claim 5, wherein said handle section is hollow and houses said battery.

9. The combination of claim 5, including a button member connected to said motor and projecting above said head section.

10. The combination of a rotatable top and a top spinner, the spinner comprising a hollow body, a battery disposed therewithin, a hollow head section at an end of the body and communicating therewith, a battery operable motor disposed in the head section and vertically shiftable therein between a normal raised position and a depressed position, means normally projecting upwardly and outwardly of the head section to control the vertical reciprocating movement of the motor, normally open switch means connecting the motor to the battery, the motor including a shaft vertically depending therefrom to a point below the hollow head section, a chuck secured to the shaft end and normally in braking engagement with said head and freely rotatable with said shaft only on depression and actuation of the motor, the top having cooperative chuck engaging means at the upper portion thereof releasable upon the continued forward rotation of said top relative to said chuck after the braking of said chuck, depression of the control means closing the circuit of the motor to the battery and substantially simultaneously shifting the chuck downwardly of the head section and disengaging the chuck from the head section to permit free rotation thereof and of the engaged top under motor influence.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein said chuck includes a magnet and said top includes a top member formed of magnetic material substantially abutting said magnet when said top is engaged by said chuck, said chuck and said top having a mating detent and recess offset relative to the axes thereof and defining said coupling means, at least one of said detent and recess having an inclined face whereby relative rotation between said chuck and top effects axial separation of said chuck and said top.

12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said magnet is of circular shape and said recess is defined by a diametrically extending groove formed in the under face of said magnet and said detent is defined by an axially offset boss projecting upwardly from said top and releasably engaging said groove.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,245,936 6/1941 Nicholas 46-69 2,768,316 10/1956 Neiss 310-95 2,776,524 1/1957 Healis 46-69 2,885,873 5/1959 Beeston 6428 2,994,984 8/ 1961 Luchsinger 46-24l 3,053,365 9/1962 Allen 19284 3,082,574 3/1963 Hellman 46- 67 X DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner. 

1. THE COMBINATION OF A ROTATABLE TOP AND A TOP SPINNER COMPRISING, A CHUCK, AN ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR CONNECTED TO SAID CHUCK FOR ROTATING SAID CHUCK IN A PREDETERMINED FORWARD DIRECTION, MEANS RELEASABLY COUPLING SAID TOP TO SAID CHUCK FOR ROTATION THEREWITH AND RESPONSIVE TO THE FORWARD ROTATION OF SAID TOP RELATIVE TO SAID CHUCK TO EFFECT DISENGAGEMENT THEREOF, AN ELECTRIC BATTERY, MEANS INCLUDING A NORMALLY OPEN SWITCH CONNECTING SAID MOTOR TO SAID BATTERY, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY BRAKING SAID CHUCK WHEREBY TO EFFECT THE FORWARD ROTATION OF SAID TOP RELATIVE TO SAID CHUCK AND THE RELEASE OF SAID TOP. 